Chapter 106: The Teleportation Technique

After two rounds of teleportation, the two arrived on an icy island fifty miles from Seventon. Naither lay in the northern reaches of Faerûn. Although it was late autumn, the biting cold wind had already begun to rage.

Creation magic was among the most dangerous forms of sorcery, involving both creation and destruction. Without the protection of an alchemy platform, numerous practitioners perished each year during creation experiments.

Especially those involving space and teleportation magic within creation magic—these were even more profound and subtle, and simultaneously among the deadliest magical experiments.

Before Born, no one had managed to master high-level spatial teleportation magic.

The primary reason was the extremely low margin for error in spatial teleportation magic. Most other spells could be tested, deduced, and simulated through magical experiments, but spatial teleportation was different. Aside from the materials required for experiments, even the spatial fluctuations caused by failed spellcasting were nearly unstoppable.

Spatial collapses, spatial rifts—these could shred an alchemy platform into pieces in moments. Spatial cuts were sharper than divine weapons, and experimenters often suffered collateral damage, usually leaving no intact remains.

Because of this, the Earl was concerned about Born’s chosen path. Most who attempted it never even crossed the threshold. Born’s talent had already brought him to the doorstep of this uncharted domain—one that no one from Naither had yet explored. There was little information for Born to rely on; he had to depend largely on himself.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” the Earl asked.

“Yes,” Born nodded.

“Then let’s begin.”

With that, the Earl left a special magical mark on Born’s body.

After thoroughly analyzing Born’s spell structure, the Earl found no issues. Though he did not understand how Born had deduced such a complete teleportation spell, the spell’s construction and operation seemed sound.

The magical mark functioned like a “signal receiver.” If Born accidentally slipped into a different dimension during teleportation, this mark would allow the Earl to locate him and teleport him back to Faerûn.

Once the Earl walked away, Born took a deep breath, adjusted himself slightly, and began chanting the incantation:

“λοντβοω∑Ι∧ζΕPΒΑΒΨ∧ΟΝ∧υλυτιαζσ…ζηαη…ξυνδυσωενκεσ…μαηχ……”

As he chanted, a faint silver light shimmered over his body.

With Born’s growing spatial talent, he became increasingly sensitive to spatial fluctuations. Even in the brief moment of teleportation, he could sense unknown creatures hidden within space.

The air grew thick and viscous; Born felt as if he were sinking in a quagmire.

“So this is what ‘space’ feels like!” a sudden clarity dawned in Born’s mind.

He had already instructed his chip to begin data collection. A torrent of information streamed rapidly into the chip, with Born as the receiver.

Born seemed to possess two perspectives simultaneously: one of the icy sea, the other resembling a vast, bubble-like dome that obscured the sky.

It was a dazzling spectacle of colors, breathtakingly beautiful—so delicate it seemed as if a mere finger could burst it. Beyond the bubble lay endless void.

In the distance, Born ‘saw’ a strange ‘sun’ encased in a red bubble. Inside was a fiery world ablaze with flames. The ground resembled a vast, shifting, flattened floor. The air shimmered with heat, and instead of water, a massive liquid was molten lava.

Oceans formed of flowing fire, mountains leaking lava...

“Fire Elemental Plane?!” Born immediately realized, though now was clearly not the time to explore it.

As the spell construction completed, Born once again experienced the sensation of astral projection.

The familiar feeling of entering the realm of the Arcane Web filled him with a strange nostalgia. With his rising arcane rank, he could delve deeper into the Web, though the number of layers was unknown. Approaching the Web’s core, he sensed ancient magical power lurking within, but the time he could ‘exist’ there grew ever shorter.

In the world of Drorel, the ‘Arcane Web’ was the heavenly order. Arcanists created arcane constructs to closely approach or even enter the Web itself. At such moments, even the most foolish goblin could become a spellcaster.

Every new spell left a mark on the Web. Before the spell was fully traced on it, Born’s consciousness could remain within the Web.

Born was no longer a novice; he understood that every second here was precious, dedicating himself fully to comprehending the Web’s mysteries.

When the spell was fully traced within the Web, Born opened his eyes in reality.

“[Teleportation Spell]!” he declared.

The Arcane Web stirred, its faint afterglow spreading slowly. When Born spoke the words, the Earl knew the spell had succeeded.

A vast blue light rose around Born, extending so far that it nearly engulfed the Earl standing a hundred meters away. The Earl understood this as a surge of the Arcane Web’s power. Every newly manifested arcane ability benefited from the Web’s amplification. Though future uses would be less dramatic, the creator’s casting would always be more potent than those who learned it later.

When Born said “[Teleportation Spell],” his consciousness seemed to shatter time and space, rapidly darting outward.

Within a radius of three to four hundred kilometers centered on Born, all places he had ever visited appeared vividly in his mind.

Seventon, the Black Market, the Nineteenth District, the academy protected by magical arrays—even the Arcane Council was within reach if he took the time.

Though such a sudden intrusion would likely provoke an attack from the Mage Tower...

The ‘map’ was not entirely clear. The farther from Born, the more blurred it became; beyond two hundred kilometers, details faded. Yet one location remained remarkably clear in his perception—the new headquarters alchemy workshop of the Leiman Trading Company.

Linking his spirit to it, a sudden burst of light flared.

Whoosh!

When the dazzling light disappeared, only a huge deep pit remained before the Earl’s eyes. It looked as if a glacier carved from seawater had been hollowed out, the circular surface smooth and even, reflecting the azure sky.

...

If there was a hot topic in Naither recently, it was undoubtedly the Leiman Trading Company’s alchemy workshop.

Trickle-down influence extended beyond the officialdom; these past days, the nobility’s highest echelons discussed the workshop incessantly, and this fervor gradually spread to the common people.

This troubled both Gordon and Leiman. Leiman was fortunate—everyone knew he was Born’s agent, and Born’s whereabouts were no secret. Anyone who cared could find that he had taken refuge in the Mage Tower alongside Earl Iollem.

But poor Viscount Gordon was beset with troubles. Initially, only representatives from some families approached him, which he could handle easily. But the next day, some heavyweight nobles from ancient houses came directly, some having connections with Earl Iollem, bringing along a large group of craftsmen and slaves as gifts for the Leiman Trading Company.

This completely stunned Leiman.

These were great nobles; when they brought gifts, refusal was unheard of. Who dared to say “no” to them?

There were many earls in Seventon—Hussein himself held the title, and there were marquises and dukes above that—but if Earl Iollem refused to see you, even orders from King Naither would be useless.

Likely, only Dean Concenio could command an Earl.

But not everyone could be as arrogant as Earl Iollem—Viscount Gordon certainly was not among them.

In terms of status, Gordon was merely a minor viscount; many were senior to him by a generation.

As for strength... well, it was a comparison best avoided.

He was thoroughly outmatched and nearly in tears.

“What a trap!!!”